BackgroundHerein, we consider the hypothesis that mothers harm peer relations when they respond to child conduct problems by expressing disapproval of friends, which exacerbates the behavior problems they were presumably attempting to deter.MethodsA community sample of Lithuanian adolescents (292 boys and 270 girls, aged 9–14 years) completed surveys three times during an academic year. Classmate nominations indexed peer status (acceptance and rejection), self‐reports described perceived maternal disapproval of friends, and peer nominations and self‐reports separately gauged conduct problems.ResultsOver the course of a school year: (a) conduct problems were associated with subsequent increases in perceived maternal friend disapproval; (b) perceived maternal friend disapproval was associated with subsequent decreases in peer status; and (c) low peer status was associated with subsequent increases in conduct problems. Full longitudinal, random‐intercept cross‐lagged panel mediation models confirmed that mothers who disapproved of friends were sources of peer difficulties that culminated in conduct problems and intermediaries whose response to child conduct problems damaged peer relations. Findings were stronger for peer rejection than for peer acceptance, suggesting that peers actively dislike those with mothers who intervene in peer relationships.ConclusionsMaternal disapproval of friends in response to child conduct problems damages the child's standing among peers, which then exacerbates behavior problems. This consequential cascade underscores the need for parent education about the potential deleterious consequences of well‐intentioned interference in peer relations. Practitioners should be prepared to offer constructive, alternative solutions when youth present behavior problems.

中文翻译：

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母亲对朋友对儿童行为问题的反对会损害青春期前和青少年早期的同伴地位


背景在此，我们考虑这样的假设：当母亲通过表达对朋友的不满来回应孩子的行为问题时，会损害同伴关系，这加剧了她们本想阻止的行为问题。 方法 立陶宛青少年的社区样本（292 名男孩和 270 名女孩，年龄9-14 岁）在一个学年内完成了 3 次调查。同学提名将同侪状态（接受和拒绝）纳入索引，自我报告描述了母亲对朋友的不赞成，而同侪提名和自我报告分别衡量了行为问题。结果在一个学年中：（a）行为问题与后续行为相关母亲朋友的不赞成感增加； (b) 感知到的母亲朋友的反对与随后同伴地位的下降有关； (c) 同伴地位低与随后行为问题的增加有关。全纵向、随机截取交叉滞后面板中介模型证实，不赞成朋友的母亲是同伴困难的根源，最终导致行为问题，而中介对儿童行为问题的反应损害了同伴关系。研究结果显示，同龄人拒绝的程度高于同龄人接受的程度，这表明同龄人非常不喜欢母亲干预同侪关系的人。结论母亲对朋友对孩子行为问题的反对会损害孩子在同龄人中的地位，从而加剧行为问题。这种连锁反应强调了家长教育的必要性，让他们了解善意干预同伴关系的潜在有害后果。 当青少年出现行为问题时，从业者应准备好提供建设性的替代解决方案。